Ayodhya, Jan 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has decided to send invites to state governments for scheduling their visits, a move aimed at controlling the rush of devotees at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The Trust will also invite Non Resident Indians (NRIs) to Ayodhya to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla, once the rush normalises.

"A specific schedule will be prepared for every state to send their people to Ayodhya. This will check the unexpected rush of people to Ayodhya and regulate their movement," a Trust member said.

According to the Trust, state governments willing to send people of their respective states to Ayodhya will be allotted a date and time for it.

The Ram temple was inaugurated with the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya on January 22. From the next day, Ayodhya has continued to receive a stream of devotees from across the country.

The Trust has already received requests from BJP-ruled states of Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand for sending people of their states to Ayodhya.

"A large number of NRIs are in touch with the Trust and they want to come to Ayodhya to pay obeisance to Lord Ram. We have decided to invite them once the rush of crowd normalises in Ayodhya," said the Trust member.

“Specific dates will be fixed for NRIs of one country. We have left it to the NRIs to then finalise their visit to Ayodhya,” said Anil Mishra, member of the Trust.

Source: IANS

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Ayodhya, Jan 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) An offering of Rs 3.17 crore was made online to Ram Lalla on the first day after the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony.

Anil Mishra, trustee of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said that 10 donation counters had been opened on the day of Pran Pratishtha. Apart from this, many devotees from across the country and the world sent online donations to Lord Ram.

According to Mishra, more than five lakh devotees visited the temple on Tuesday and an equal number on Wednesday.

He said that the Rs 3.17 crore received online on Tuesday and the amount received on Wednesday would be revealed after tabulation, the next day.

Physical donations made in the week will be counted every Monday, Mishra said.

The official said that arrangements are being made in consultation with the administration to ensure that darshan at the temple remains well organised.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale held a meeting with all officials of the Trust.

He has instructed Sangh workers around Ayodhya to accept the responsibility of cleaning the temple and cooperate in conducting well-organised temple darshan.

The Ashok Singhal Foundation, in a press release on Wednesday, announced its contribution to the construction of the Ram Mandir and expressed gratitude for being a part of the historic Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

As a symbol of gratitude, the Ashok Singhal Foundation distributed a biography of Ashok Singhal, a Ram Stambh brochure, along with a souvenir of a silver coin dedicated to Lord Shri Ram to all the attendees of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 22, 2024.

The trustee of the Ashok Singhal Foundation, Mahesh Bhagchandka, along with his wife, Sunita Bhagchandka, performed the 'puja' ceremony as Yajman from January 18 to 21, completing all the sacred rituals.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, Jan 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) Chief ministers and ministers of the BJP-ruled states will start arriving in Ayodhya to have 'darshan' of Ram Lalla in the newly-built temple, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to visit Ayodhya on February 1, a day ahead of the beginning of Budget session, along with his cabinet ministers to offer prayers.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is scheduled to visit the temple town on February 2, while Eknath Shinde, chief minister of Maharashtra, along with deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, is expected to land in Ayodhya on February 5.

“People have been eagerly awaiting the construction of the Ram Temple, and now the time has come to seek the blessings of Ram Lalla,” Dhami said while announcing his visit to Ayodhya on Wednesday.

Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Saha will also visit Ayodhya on February 5 along with the cabinet ministers. “A new era of Ram Rajawat or rule of Ram is beginning with the inauguration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya,” he said.

Upon Saha’s request, the railway ministry has allocated three special trains for devotees from Tripura to visit Ayodhya.

Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will visit Ayodhya on February 6 and 9, respectively, while newly elected Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Bhajan Lal Sharma is all set to reach Ayodhya with his cabinet ministers to seek Ram Lalla’s blessing on February 12.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will have darshan on February 15.

Sharing a post on X, Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that he would visit Ayodhya on February 22 with his entire cabinet. Two days later, on February 24, Gujarat Chief Minister, Bhupendra Singh Patel will be present in Ayodhya and will hold a cabinet meeting as well.

On March 4, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will reach Ayodhya to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla.

Meanwhile, CM Yogi Adityanath said that amidst the extraordinary circumstances arising from the influx of devotees in Ayodhya, it is advisable to notify the local administration, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, or the state government at least a week in advance of any planned visit by distinguished dignitaries to Ayodhya.

This proactive communication will facilitate better coordination and ensure a smooth and well-managed reception for these special guests, Yogi Adityanath added.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, Jan 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) The BJP legislators from West Bengal led by the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, will visit the newly inaugurated Ram Mandir in Ayodhya next month.

Sources said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators will be flying to Ayodhya on February 10 and return to Kolkata later in the night.

"All members of our legislative team will be in Kolkata from February 5 to attend the Budget Session of the Assembly which will commence from that day. There would be no session on February 10 as it is Saturday. Hence, the Leader of the Opposition has chosen February 10 for Ayodhya visit," a state committee member of the BJP said.

Political observers feel that nationwide euphoria over the inauguration of the Ram Temple has enlivened the BJP leadership, and hence, they want to spread the ecstasy in West Bengal ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Jan 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde along with Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar are slated to visit Ayodhya in early February and pray at the just inaugurated Lord Ram Temple there, official sources said here on Wednesday.

Shinde who was invited for, but skipped the January 22 Pran Pratistha event, had announced that rather than going for solo 'darshan', he would visit Ayodhya at a later date along with the entire state cabinet on behalf of all the people and devotees of Lord Ram in the state.

As per current plans, the visit is likely to take place on February 5, with the CM, both Deputy CMs, all Cabinet Ministers, MPs, MLAs and other party leaders slated to join.

However, Shinde had celebrated the January 22 ceremony by playing the 'dhol' (drum), distributing sweets and raising chants of 'Jai Shri Ram', while Fadnavis was in Nagpur that day.

Besides Maharashtra, the CMs and top leaders of various other BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Goa, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Assam, Gujarat, etc., shall be going for a darshan in the new temple over the next couple of months on various dates, plus Opposition leaders like Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray have also said they will go to Ram Mandir soon.

Since the temple inauguration in the presence of thousands of VVIPs and others, from January 23 onwards, lakhs of devotees from all over India are thronging for darshan to Ayodhya, braving the chilly weather in north India.

Source: IANS

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Ayodhya (UP), Jan 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ram Daak Sewa, an initiative to connect pilgrims from all over India to link with Ayodhya Dham through a postcard with Ram Naam, has been launched by Mangal Bhawan.

An address form is available to people to share their postal address to receive a date stamped postcard on the auspicious day of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha.

Vivek Daksh, post master general, headquarters region Lucknow, said, “Postal service forms an integral part of creating and keeping memories of historical dates and events for times to come. I am pleased to see this initiative celebrating rich history and tradition.”

Punit Modhgil, founder, Mangal Bhawan.org said, “We received an enthusiastic response to our call for Ram Daak Sewa. Our initial target of 1,008 postcards was met in less than 24 hours. Interesting to note the special interest by young Indians to participate and receiving special blessings through India Post.

We appreciate and thank India Post, especially the Ayodhya team in supporting this public private initiative.

Source: IANS

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Ayodhya (UP), Jan 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust has claimed that a monkey allegedly entered the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, where the idol of Ram Lalla resides, on the day the temple was thrown open to the public.

In a post on X, the trust said that around 5:50 p.m. on Tuesday, a monkey entered the temple through the southern gate and made its way to the vestibule. It then approached the Utsav idol, an older idol of Ram Lalla that used to be housed in a tent before the new temple was built.

Security personnel stationed nearby, concerned about the idol's safety, rushed towards the monkey.

However, the monkey calmly retreated and moved towards the northern gate, which was closed. It then exited through the eastern gate, passing through the crowd of devotees without causing any harm.

The trust said that the security personnel reportedly viewed the monkey's visit as a divine blessing, believing it to be Lord Hanuman himself coming to see Ram Lalla.

This perception is further fuelled by the recurring association of monkeys with Hanuman, devoted to Lord Ram and a central figure in the Ramayana.

Monkeys, seen as avatars of Hanuman, have been a recurring emblem throughout the Ram Janmabhoomi movement's history.

On October 30, 1990, when kar sevaks surged past barricades and hoisted saffron flags atop the Babri Masjid, a monkey perched itself on the central dome, safeguarding one of the flags from being removed after the crowd was dispersed by security forces.

Source: IANS

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Ayodhya, Jan 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) In view of the huge number of devotees visiting the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the temple administration has taken a decision to extend the time for 'darshan'.

Now devotees can have darshan of Ram Lalla till 10 p.m. instead of 7 p.m.

In the morning shift, darshan will remain open from 7 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

According to official sources, about five lakh devotees are camping in Ayodhya for darshan at the temple and a regular stream of devotees is coming in.

The Ayodhya district administration has appealed to the devotees to come to Ayodhya after 10-15 days and have darshan of Ram Lalla.

It is noteworthy that more than eight thousand policemen are monitoring the system.

Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar and Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad are also camping in Ayodhya to monitor the situation.

Source: IANS

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Ayodhya, Jan 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) The ban on vehicular traffic entering Ayodhya, apparently, has not dampened the mood of devotees who continue to flock to the holy city.

According to reports, devotees are undeterred by the Tuesday late-night ban and are now walking on foot to reach Ayodhya and have ‘darshan’ of the new temple.

Since all vehicular movement towards Ayodhya was stopped on Tuesday night, people are now walking to the holy city. An estimated three lakh people visited the temple on Tuesday.

The unprecedented rush of devotees seeking to have a glimpse of Ram Lalla’s idol created chaos outside the Ram temple in Ayodhya when it opened for the public, a day after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

Principal secretary (home) Sanjay Prasad and director general (law and order) Prashant Kumar rushed to the temple town for better crowd management and stayed inside the ‘Garbha Griha’ of the temple for hours to ensure orderly movement of devotees. Even Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had to fly over to Ayodhya to take stock of the situation.

Earlier in the day, ADG (Lucknow zone), Piyush Mordia and inspector-general of police (Ayodhya range) Praveen Kumar, along with other local authorities, had to struggle to ensure proper crowd management.

The police had to hold the crowd at the borders of the temple town while authorities appealed to people to visit Ayodhya after a few days.

Former UP DGP O.P. Singh said the most important aspect of crowd management should be channelising people through a longer zig-zag route and complete control at the access point.

“Video analytics through CCTV cameras and drones could be used to assess crowd psychology to improve the crowd management system gradually,” he emphasized.

He said that authorities must ensure no bottlenecks are created by people stopping in front of the idol to click photographs or taking extra time to take a glimpse of the deity.

Authorities should also be ready with an emergency exit plan in case any person falls sick as well as ambulances and makeshift hospitals. Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das, however, said on Wednesday that it is unlikely that everyone would be able to have a ‘darshan’ of the new Ram Lalla idol in the temple town due to huge crowds.

Source: IANS

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Jaipur, Jan 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Hero MotoCorp Chairman Pawan Munjal on Tuesday welcomed the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ram Temple in Ayodhya, saying that the inauguration reflects India's unity, rich cultural heritage and resilience.

He said that for any country aspiring to achieve new heights of development, upholding its heritage is crucial.

“The inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is once in a lifetime and a monumental event. It represents a historic moment. It not only signifies a cultural milestone but also reflects unity, rich cultural heritage and resilience of our great nation,” Munjal said.

He said that India's rich heritage and unparalleled legacy not only inspires us but also provides guidance in the right direction.

“India is progressing by embracing both its profound history and best aspects of modernity,” he said.

Remembering his father, he said that the year 2024 is indeed very special as the company is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Hero.

“Today we stand as a beacon of Indian ingenuity and enterprise, contributing significantly to the resurgence of our nation's manufacturing capabilities, engineering, innovation and technology prowess,” he said.

He said that the year 2024 also holds special significance as the company celebrates and commemorates the centennial year of founder and chairman Brijmohan Lall Munjal.

“His towering personality remains unparalleled, continuing to inspire me and all of us through his enduring legacy and steadfast value system,” he said.

He said that the global footprint of Hero MotoCorp today extends to nearly 50 countries across multiple continents, where Hero is not just a brand, but a shining example of a confident India.

Source: IANS

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Ayodhya, Jan 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) The original idol of Ram Lalla that reportedly appeared inside the Babri Masjid on the night of December 22, 1949, and led to a prolonged legal battle, will also be installed in the new temple.

The idol was in a makeshift tent after the demolition of the Babri structure on December 6, 1992 and later shifted to a temporary temple.

Several people claim that they saw a Ram idol mysteriously appear in the Babri Majid, which intensified religious sentiments around the site and led to a legal battle that went on for decades.

Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the temple construction committee, said on Tuesday, "The lord, who is already there, will also move to the new temple. Ceremonies are being performed. The idol, which is in the temporary temple, will also move to the garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum). The old idol will also be placed on the throne and will be seated on a throne opposite the new Ram Lalla idol.”

On Monday, the new idol sculpted by Mysuru-based artist Arun Yogiraj was placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple during the grand 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at Ayodhya.

The 51-inch idol, carved from black stone, is dressed in a yellow dhoti with a golden crown, and necklaces, holding a golden bow and arrow.

"You will have a standing idol of Ram Lalla, and also the 'murti' (idol) which appeared in 1949. Both idols will be at the singhasan (throne)," Mishra added.

The event ignited religious fervour across India, with many states declaring a holiday, stock markets shut and homes and businesses illuminated.

Source: IANS

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Guwahati, Jan 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma along with his cabniet collegues will visit Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on February 22, officials said.

The decision for Ayodhya visit was taken during a state cabinet meeting held on Monday night in Guwahati.

After the meeting, Sarma wrote on his X handle, “In today's meeting of the Assam Cabinet, we've taken several important decisions. Assam Cabinet to visit Ayodhya on February 22, 2024.”

The decisions read as, “Cabinet extended its heartfelt gratitude to Hon'ble Prime Minister and greetings to the people of India on the auspicious occasion of Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla at Ayodhya. The entire Cabinet will pay a solemn visit to Ayodhya on February 22, 2024 for darshan of Ram Lalla.”

In addition, the state government made the decision to outlaw unfair exam practices.

Last year, Assam's class-10 exam ran into problems when four papers were leaked, forcing the state government to retake the test.

The state administration has now made the decision to outlaw these actions.

Sarma stated, “To curb leakage of question papers and use of unfair means during public examinations, approval to The Assam Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2024 was given in the cabinet.”

On Monday, the cabinet also took a decision to establish Swahid Kanaklata University. Moreover, the state government will provide Rs 400 crore to various department projects under the autonomous division of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

The state cabinet has authorised the promotion of at least 1,705 assistant professors working in different government colleges across the state, Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, Jan 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) A day after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya, Tuesday was witnessing huge crowds at various Hanuman temples.

Tuesday being the day of worship for Hanuman, his temples are now witnessing huge footfalls, despite chilly weather and dense fog.

Long queues of devotees lined at almost all Hanuman temples across the state on Tuesday and this is being directly linked to the opening of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

“There is a huge rush at Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya and this is mainly because it is customary for devotees to visit this temple before visiting the Ram temple,” said Ram Kumar, a regular visitor to this temple.

In Lucknow, despite bone-chilling cold, the Hanuman temples were jammed with devotees.

“We could not visit Ayodhya for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony so we decided to offer prayers at Hanuman temple. Because of the huge rush, we may not be able to go to Ayodhya for some time,” said Meenu Sharma, a Ram devotee.

In Prayagraj, according to sources, a massive turnout of devotees was seen since morning at the ‘Bade Hanuman’ temple near Sangam.

The rush of devotees included those who are attending the Magh Mela and also those from the city.

Source: IANS

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Ayodhya, Jan 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) ‘Aarti’ will be performed at the Ram temple, now known as 'Balak Ram temple’, six times a day.

After the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the deity on Monday, there is going to be a change in his worship and aarti also. The entire method has been systematized.

“Now Ashtyam Seva of Ram Lalla will be held in all eight hours of 24 hours. Apart from this, aarti of Ram Lalla will be performed six times. Passes will be issued to attend the aarti. Till now there were two aartis of Ram Lalla Virajman,” said Acharya Mithileshnandini Sharan, the instructor of Ram Lalla’s priests.

He said that now the aartis will include Mangala, Shringaar, Bhog, Uthapan, Sandhya and Shayan aarti.

Mangala Aarti is meant to awaken God. The deity will be decorated in Shringaar Aarti. Puri-sabzi-kheer will be offered in Bhog Aarti. Uthapan Aarti is performed to remove the evil eye on Ram Lalla. Sandhya Aarti is done in the evening and then Shayan Aarti before putting the Lord to sleep.

Apart from offering puri-vegetables, rabri-kheer, Ram Lalla will also be offered milk, fruits and pedas every hour in the afternoon.

Ram Lalla will wear white on Monday, red on Tuesday, green on Wednesday, yellow on Thursday, cream on Friday, blue on Saturday and pink on Sunday. On special days, the deity will wear yellow clothes.

Darshan will be held from 6.00 a.m.

Source: IANS

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Ayodhya, Jan 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) A massive rush of devotees wanting to have ‘darshan’ of Ram Lalla at the newly constructed Ram temple was witnessed in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya on Tuesday.

Devotees had lined up at the temple since 3 a.m.

A majority of these are those who came for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on Monday and stayed back to offer prayers at the temple.

A large number of saints are among those who have lined up at the temple.

Temple trust members said the rush was unprecedented and they have urged the district administration to ensure proper security and continue with the arrangements.

“We expect a greater rush during the day when the local people start turning up for darshan,” said a trust member.

Source: IANS

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Jaipur, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) A 35-foot tall grand tableau, replicating the Ram Temple of Ayodhya, has been built at the Albert Hall here to celebrate the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the grand temple in Ayodhya on Monday.

Around 150 artisans from West Bengal constructed the temple-shaped tableau. This tableau remain at the Albert Hall for three days for public viewing.

To mark the special occasion, the hall was also illuminated with 1.11 lakh lamps.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma visited different temples on Monday, including the Khatushyam temple along with his wife.

Sharma also visited the Shri Khatushyam Temple in Sikar on Monday, where he prayed for the prosperity of the state and human welfare. He was accompanied by wife Geeta Sharma.

Sharma also participated in a Kirtan programme organised under the Shri Ramlalla Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav in the temple premises.

Source: IANS

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Jaipur, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Diya Kumari, worshipped Lord Ram at the Sitaramdwara within the City Palace here on Monday.

The ceremony was followed by the flagging off of the Ramrath Yatra organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) from the Ram temple in Ambabari.

In a parallel celebration, the Deputy CM watched the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya live on a giant screen put up at the temple within the Dhehar Ka Balaji complex in Vidyadhar Nagar.

Post the Pran Pratishtha, she led the 'aarti' of Ram Lalla, extended reverence to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Mohan Bhagwat. The event was attended by Vidyadhar Nagar councilors, dedicated workers, and distinguished citizens.

Addressing the gathering, Diya Kumari conveyed her best wishes, as she characterised the moment as the conclusion of a five-century wait for the followers of Hindu religion. She attributed the historic occasion to the unwavering commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Earlier in the day, Diya Kumari took part in the Deepotsav programme organised by the Central Spine Vyapar Mandal, following the Kalash Yatra and a programme at Mangalam Vihar in Vidyadhar Nagar.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan performed puja at Raj Bhavan on Monday to mark the inauguration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

According to a Raj Bhavan press communique, she performed, “Lord Shri Rama Pooja and participated in a devotional hymn-singing session (Sri Rama Nama Sankeerthanam) at Raj Bhavan, to mark the Sri Ram Prana Pratishtha ceremony of the Sri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.”

“Classical singers from the AMS College of Fine Arts and Media Education and Sammahana School offered their soulful voices to devotional songs in paying tribute to Lord Rama. The program was graced by guests, including the Secretary, Joint Secretaries, and the entire Raj Bhavan staff,” it said.

Tamilisai also lit the lamps at Raj Bhavan.

According to a post from her official handle on ‘X’ she lit the lamps as per the clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for celebrating the historic occasion.

The Governor also witnessed the live telecast of ‘Prana Pratishtha’ from Ayodhya with the leaders of Telangana BJP at Nizam College grounds.

She watched the event live along with Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism G Kishan Reddy and Rajya Sabha member K Laxman and other BJP leaders.

She thanked Laxman for organising a grand programme with a giant screen. She told media persons that the whole world is celebrating the event at Ayodhya. She said that there are no words to express happiness.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday offered prayers at Ramadevi temple here on the occasion of Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya where Prime Minster Narendra Modi and other dignitaries were present.

Khan was accompanied by former Meghalaya governor Kummanem Rajasekheran, Thiruvananthapuram unit BJP president V.V. Rajesh, among others.

The Governor sat through the prayer sessions in temple and also watched the telecast of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE), PK Sekar Babu, on Monday accused Governor RN Ravi of joining hands with the BJP to defame the state government despite getting a red carpet treatment during his visit to the Kodandaramaswamy temple.

He was responding to the statement by the Governor that during his (Governor’s) darshan at the Kodandaramaswamy temple, in West Mambalam, Chennai, he had seen fear in the eyes of the temple priests.

The Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP was at loggerheads with the ruling DMK Government over the ‘Prana Pratishta’ function at Ayodhya.

The Governor had in a social media post on Monday stated that the premises of the Kodandaramaswamy temple exuded a sense of repression when the entire country was celebrating the consecration of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya.

Sekar Babu in a response to the minister said that the Governor of Tamil Nadu was given a red carpet welcome at the Kodandaramaswamy temple at West Mambalam.

Sekar Babu further said that the state government had made all arrangements for a smooth darshan for the Governor. He added that while the state government did everything for the Governor, he had joined hands with the BJP and tried to portray the state government as against spiritualism.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is expected to have a big economic impact in the region as tourism is projected to surge to 5 crore visitors every year to the holy town, according to global brokerage firm Jeffries.

"The grand opening of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a big religious event. It also comes with a large economic impact as India gets a new tourist spot which could attract 50 million plus tourists a year.

"A $10 billion makeover (around Rs 82,500 crore) which includes a new airport, revamped railway station, township, improved road connectivity, etc. will likely drive a multiplier effect with new hotels and other economic activities. It can also set a template for infra-driven growth for tourism," the Jefferies report states.

Amid increased economic and religious migration to Ayodhya, "multiple sectors stand to benefit including hotels, airlines, hospitality, FMCG, travel ancillaries, cement etc", the report added.

The Ram temple at Ayodhya can "create a meaningfully large economic impact", said Jefferies.

Main pilgrimage site, spread over nearly 70 acres, will be equipped to host about a million devotees together.

Number of pilgrims is expected to jump to 1-1.5 lakh per day, the report further stated.

"Religious tourism is still the biggest segment of tourism in India. Several popular religious centres attract annual tourist traffic of 10-30 million despite the existing infrastructural bottlenecks. And hence, the creation of a new religious tourist centre (Ayodhya) with improved connectivity and infrastructure can create a meaningfully large economic impact," it said.

"The makeover is now set to transform the ancient city from a sleepy town to a global religious and spiritual tourist hotspot. Tourism is projected to surge and increased economic and religious migration to Ayodhya, multiple sectors stand to benefit including hotels, airlines, hospitality, FMCG, travel ancillaries, cement etc," the Jefferies report added.

Before the pandemic, tourism contributed $194 billion to FY19 GDP.

This is now expected to grow at an 8 per cent CAGR to $443 billion by FY 2033.

Currently, the tourism-to-GDP ratio in India, at 6.8 per cent of the GDP, puts the country below most of the large emerging and developed economies, which are higher by 3-5 percentage points.

"Among the travel service providers, Indigo announced Ayodhya as its 86th domestic destination with direct flights from Delhi, Ahmedabad & Mumbai. Air India, announced direct flights from Bengaluru, Kolkata & Delhi. Spicejet and Akasa Air also announced flights connecting Ayodhya with multiple cities. IRCTC announced tour packages to Ayodhya," added the report.

Jefferies has picked Indian Hotel Company and EIH as the potential beneficiaries from hotel space, while it sees ITC, Jubilant Foodworks, Britannia Industries, Godrej Consumer, Westlife Foodworld, Hindustan Unilever, Devyani International and Sapphire Foods from the FMCG and QSR space.

InterGlobe Aviation (Indigo), SpiceJet, IRCTC and Ease My Trip shall benefit from the travel sector.

Ayodhya has witnessed a surge in hotel construction and development.

Currently, the city has approximately 17 hotels with around 590 rooms.

To meet the anticipated increase in tourist arrivals, 73 new hotels are in the pipeline, with 40 of them already under construction, as per the report.

Several renowned hotel chains and hospitality companies, including IHCL (Indian Hotels Company Limited), Marriott International, Wyndham, and OYO Rooms, are planning on creating more hotels in Ayodhya.

The hospitality projects are expected to add significant room capacity to accommodate the growing number of tourists and pilgrims visiting Ayodhya.

Source: IANS

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Bengaluru, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Minister for Mine, Coal, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Monday said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is 'anti-Hindu', adding that 'there should be no doubt about that'.

"Siddaramaiah did not declare a holiday. First, he said he would not go to Ayodhya. Now, he says he will visit Ayodhya. All of this is for securing votes," Joshi said.

"We will work towards creating 'Ram Rajya' in the coming five years," he added.

On the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the Union Minister said: "Lord Ram, who had been away for a long time, has arrived home today. People are working with devotion everywhere. There is a festive mood all over the country."

The Minister further said that Lord Ram was waiting for "a great personality to bring him home for 500 years".

"Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done the job. He has dedicated his life to creating a good society. PM Modi is following the principles of Ram," Joshi said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said the dream of "Ram Rajya" is being realised through the guarantee schemes launched by the Congress-led government in the state.

Expressing happiness over Pran Prathistha of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, Shivakumar said: "Creating Ram Rajya is our dream. In order to realize this dream, five guarantees in the state have been successfully implemented.

"A meaningful life is all about inculcating the principles of Lord Ram and the loyalty of Hanuman," he added.

Source: IANS

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Jaipur, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) On the eve of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led Rajasthan Government on Sunday made several announcements for the benefit of the people.

Now, a Rajasthan state roadways bus service will be launched from seven divisions of the state for the devotees going to Ayodhya.

Also, under the Senior Citizens Pilgrimage Scheme, 3,000 pilgrims will travel to Ayodhya to visit the Ram Temple by March 31 this year.

At the same time, rail service will also start from the state to Ayodhya.

These announcements were made by the Rajasthan Government before the ‘Prana Pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya late on Sunday night.

The state government also announced six 'Shri Ram-Janaki Industrial Areas' which will be developed in five industrial areas of the state.

Source: IANS

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Nashik (Maharashtra), Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Shiv Sena (UBT) took out a massive procession Nashik to mark the Pran Pratisthan of the Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya and pray at the famed Kalaram Mandir here on Monday.

The procession, in which party leader Aditya Thackeray and others participated, went through some of the prominent roads in the town with activists sporting saffron flags, and raising slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram'.

"The dream of Balasaheb Thackeray has been fulfilled and the sacrifices of all the 'kar-sevaks' have borne fruits today… Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patit Pavan SitaRam… Jai Siyaram," said Aditya Thackeray.

SS-UBT President and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray went and prayed at Kalaram Mandir here on Monday evening. He is scheduled to address a public rally later on Monday.

Thackeray was extended an invite to the Pran Pratistha ceremony in Ayodhya, but along with several other political parties and allies, he decided to skip the event.

From Tuesday, January 23, the SS-UBT will kickstart its poll campaign for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, said a party leader. The day is auspicious on two counts -- it is the 98th birth anniversary of the original Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray who founded the party on June 19, 1966, and it is also the 127th birth anniversary of the legendary freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose.

The SS-UBT has launched a mega-campaign here involving a 'Maha-Shibir', a 'Khula Adhiveshan', a procession, and a rally in this pilgrim centre as an attempt to revive the party after its vertical split in June 2022, followed by legal, political and legislative reverses in the last 19 tumultuous months.

This year, the party – a constituent of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the state and the INDIA bloc at the national level – will face three major elections, civic, parliament and assembly in quick succession that would decide the future of its battle for its political survival amid huge pressures.

Besides revamping and rejuvenating the party founded by his father, Thackeray's immediate challenges are the vexed seat-sharing talks with the other allies, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (SP), and the 'targeting' of several of its leaders by various central investigation agencies in different cases.

Source: IANS

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Bengaluru, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Karnataka BJP on Monday criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for not announcing a holiday on the day of the ‘Prana Pratishtha’ in Ayodhya. Defending his decision, CM Siddaramaiah questioned whether the Union Government had declared a holiday in all states.

Leader of the Opposition (LoP), R. Ashoka stated, “The whole nation is chanting the slogan of Shri Ram. People are voluntarily participating in the celebrations. Intolerant of this festive mood, the Congress Government in the state refused to declare a public holiday. What happened to Ravan in the end for hating Lord Ram despite repeated advice from his wife Mandodari and brother Vibheeshan not to do so? Duryodhan met a tragic end by treading the path of injustice and declaring war on his own cousin brothers, going against Sri Krishna. Ram haters of this Kal Yug are going to meet the same fate as Ravan in Treta Yug and Duryodhan in Dvapara Yug.”

In a rejoinder to Ashoka’s remarks, CM Siddaramaiah questioned whether the central government had declared a holiday on January 22 in all states.

“The event is taking place in Ayodhya, but has a holiday been declared in the states of Kerala, New Delhi, and West Bengal? This is not a political programme. One can see Ram of Ayodhya in idols of temples in our places. All gods are one right?” the CM said.

Reiterating that he would visit Ayodhya, Siddaramaiah stated that Mahatma Gandhi was also a devotee of Ram.

“I am not an atheist. I am a believer in God. Lord Sri Ramachandra is loved by everyone in the country. He is revered by 143 crore people. There are temples of Ram in every village in India. I have also built a temple of Ram at my place. We are ardent devotees of Lord Ram and Hanuman. I have never questioned the existence of God,” he explained.

“God is one, and he is called by different names. Gods such as Eshwar, Chamundi, Krishna, Thiummappa, Ram are worshipped from time immemorial. The building of the Shri Ram temple is not a new phenomenon. Temples of Ram have been built before, and they will be built in the future as well,” Siddaramaiah maintained.

“Ramayana has given principles. Lord Ram is seen as an epitome of human personality. Gandhi Ji aspired for Ram Rajya. If there has to be a Ram Rajya, the land has to be a garden of different religions,” Siddaramaiah added.

“Ram belongs to everyone. All religions aim for the welfare of humanity. Tolerance and coexistence is clearly written in the Constitution. Everyone should live like human beings, and should not hate anyone. These are the values that Hindu sacred scriptures Ramayana and Mahabharata preach,” he explained.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) A UP-based streaming platform startup has come up with a five-episode series on the story of Ayodhya’s Ram temple.

Titled as the ‘Battle for Ayodhya’, the series aims to document the key events of the saga – from its inception about 500 years ago to present times when the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony took place in the new temple.

“The target audience of the effort is Gen-Z. The aim is to come up with well-researched and authentic material on the subject so that they do not have to wade through reels, clips and scattered information,” said Director Kushal Srivastava.

Kushal said the company called Vedshaala was envisioned as a helping hand to the younger generation which is going through uniquely challenging times.

It was started by Lucknow resident Sarit Agarwal, an IIT alumnus, teacher and motivational speaker.

He added that real people who have been associated with the Ayodhya temple movement in the past 40 years were interviewed to narrate the sequence of events.

“But the most satisfying element of our work is stories of survival and peaceful coexistence. I realised that Lord Ram belonged to everyone and his presence in people’s lives was irrespective of caste, religion, and community lines. The dispute existed in the court of law and not in people. This means that Ram is a unifying force,” he said.

Kushal has been associated with the KK Menon-starrer Vodka Diaries.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday expressed displeasure over 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony held in Ayodhya by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We now have come to a point when the inauguration of a religious place of worship in the country is being celebrated as a state event,” he said.

He said that those who have pledged to preserve and protect the Constitution, they should reaffirm their commitment to its secular character.

“By declining to participate in the event, we have upheld our Constitutional responsibilities,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that secularism has been the soul of the democratic republic of India. “Secularism is our identity as a nation right from the days of our national movement. Those belonging to different faiths and are not part of any religion had taken an active part in our freedom struggle. This nation belongs to all people and all sections of Indian society, in equal measure,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that religion is a private affair and the Indian Constitution has minced no words in stating that all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and have the right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion.

“As those who have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution of India, we should ensure that every person within our territories enjoys this right in equal measure. We cannot be promoting one religion above all others, or demean other religions,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru has said that ‘Indian secularism means the separation of religion and state’.

“We even have a strong tradition of maintaining that separation. However, of late, the line that demarcates religion and state seems to be getting thinner and thinner. This is a major departure from the times when our constitutional office bearers have been cautioned from taking part in religious events, as it would cast aspersions on our credentials as a secular state,” the Chief Minister said.

He said that let this serve as an opportunity to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities.

Source: IANS

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New York, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Corresponding with the grand temple opening ceremony in Ayodhya today, the city of Queretaro in Mexico got its first temple dedicated to Lord Ram with its 'pran pratishtha' ceremony being performed by an American priest.

The idols were procured from India and the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony was attended by people from the Indian as well as the Mexican community, the Indian embassy said in a post shared on X.

"On the eve of ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at Ayodhya, city of Queretaro in Mexico gets the first Lord Ram temple," the embassy said, adding that the city also hosts the first Lord Hanuman temple.

"The atmosphere was filled with divine energy as the hymns & songs sung by the Indian diaspora reverberated throughout the hall".

According to Indian embassy data, the Indian community in Mexico is small, numbering about 8000 with about one third of them in Mexico City, and the rest spread in Guadalajara, Monterrey, Cuernavaca, Queretaro, Cancun etc.

While the bulk is formed by IT professionals, others comprise executives of Indian and international companies, academicians, and businesspersons mostly in pharmaceuticals, textile and garment business.

In 2016, an ‘Indian Association of Mexico (IAM)’ was registered locally, which commands good membership and support of the community, according to the Indian Embassy.

India marked the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries, including politicians, celebrities, industrialists, saints and around 100 representatives from different countries.

Prime Minister Modi, who broke his 11-day fast after concluding the rituals, said addressing a gathering of thousands of people in Ayodhya that after years of struggle, "Ram Lalla (child Lord Ram) is here”.

Ahead of today's ceremony, the idol of Ram Lalla underwent ritualistic bathing using 114 pitchers filled with "aushadhiyukt" -- water infused with medicinal properties -- along with sacred water from different pilgrimage sites, according to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Source: IANS

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Ayodhya, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that after years of struggle, "Ram Lalla (child Lord Ram) is here”.

Addressing a gathering of thousands of people in Ayodhya, following the 'Pran Pratishtha' rituals at Ram temple, he said that he is still "shaking" from the spiritual experience of the inauguration of Ram temple, which happened four years after the landmark judgment by the Supreme Court.

The Prime Minister said that Ram is "not a dispute" but "a solution".

"I have firm belief and immense faith that today, the devotees of Ram are completely absorbed in this historic moment. The devotees of Ram, in every corner of the country and the world, are deeply feeling this. This moment is divine, this moment is the holiest of all," he stated.

PM Modi also praised the Indian judiciary, saying that they ensured justice, referring to the landmark judgment in the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute.

"The legal battle over the existence of Lord Ram went on for decades. I would like to express my gratitude to the judiciary of India for doing justice," he said at the event.

He added that Lord Ram is the "spirit of Indian Constitution".

Lauding the historic moment of the temple inauguration, the Prime Minister said that Indians have tackled a "complicated past" but the future looks bright from now on.

He said that he is overjoyed that Lord Ram will no longer reside in a tent.

“Today our Ram has arrived after generations of waiting. On this auspicious occasion, congratulations to everyone. There is so much to tell, but there is a lump in my throat,” he said.

He further said, “January 22, 2024 is not merely a date but marks the advent of a new era. The legal battle over the existence of Lord Ram went on for decades. Ram is mentioned in the first verse in our Constitution, yet it took so many decades for this to happen. That Constitution finally holds true to its mention.”

“Today, I also apologise to Lord Shri Ram. There must be something lacking in our effort, sacrifice and penance that we could not do this work for so many centuries. Today the work has been completed. I believe that Lord Shri Ram will definitely forgive us today,” he said.

The Prime Minister said, “I got the opportunity to travel from Sagar to Saryu. From Sagar to Saryu, the same festive spirit of Ram's name is visible everywhere. Ram is not fire, Ram is energy. Ram is not a dispute, Ram is the solution. Ram is not just ours, Ram is everyone's. Ram is not current, Ram is eternal.”

He termed the Ram Mandir opening as a "humbling moment". He urged all to light a Ram Jyoti at home. He also took a dig at those who questioned India's social fabric.

The Prime Minister noted that he heard many verses from the epic Ramayana while reaching the temple for the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony.

After the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath presented a model of the Ram temple, made in silver, to Prime Minister and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Reliance Industries is one of the first private organisations to declare a holiday on January 22 so that lakhs of Reliance colleagues and families could celebrate and join the devotional ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Shri Ram Lala.

All the members of the Ambani family were also present at Ayodhya to witness this ‘once in an era’ event.

The various temples at Reliance premises across the country will also celebrate with special puja tomorrow. These include various temples in Reliance facilities such as in Mumbai, Jamnagar, Dahej, Nagothane, Hazira, Silvassa, Halol, Hoshiarpur, Nagpur, Shahdol, Kakinada and various other locations.

In addition, Reliance Jio and Reliance Retail have activated several special services for the benefit of Ram bhakts, devotees and pilgrims.

Jio’s True4G and Standalone 5G networks were also upgraded in Ayodhya to Jio to connect people during the important event.

It has also set up additional towers across the city for enhanced and seamless network.

Multiple Cells on Wheels (CoWs) were placed across key locations for ubiquitous connectivity. Charging stations set up across key paths to help visitors charge their devices constantly.

Support for setting up ‘May I Help You’ desks were also set up at important locations.

Further, Independence water and refreshments will be provided by consumer products division to the people manning these desks.

Jio in collaboration with Doordarshan also brought the exclusive live telecast of the historic Ram Mandir Pran Pratistha ceremony to hundreds of millions of viewers across the nation. Through this partnership, Jio provided viewers with live feed of the ceremony, real-time updates via different news channels, detailed ceremony insights, expert comments, and in-depth analysis.

Campa activations were also included to bring to consumer the great Indian taste during the mega event.

Jio also distributed diyas to all visitors to the Smart Bazaar and Smart Point stores in Ayodhya and also set up the Seva for pilgrims by distributing tea at kiosks set up outside the stores in Ayodhya.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid the sounds of dhols and firecrackers, distribution of sweets, rallies and chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’, Hindus in India and abroad came together to celebrate the 'Prana Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on Monday.

The US, where Indian-Americans make up approximately 1.35 per cent of the population, kicked off the celebrations almost a week before the temple's consecration with massive car rallies in Houston and California.

Carrying saffron banners with images of Ram Lalla and the temple, more than 1,100 Hindus took part in a Bay Area car rally, and a huge crowd gathered at the iconic Times Square in New York, singing hymns in praise of Lord Ram.

Laddos were also distributed as 'prasad' by the members of the 'Overseas Friends of Ram Mandir' at Times Square.

In addition, the US Chapter of the VHP erected over 40 billboards in 10 states, including Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia.

Over 100 Tesla-owning Hindus gathered at Sri Bhaktha Anjaneya Temple in Maryland and arranged their cars in such a way that it formed the word "Ram'' when seen from a bird's eye view.

“This is a huge accomplishment after 500 years of struggle. Congratulations to my Hindu friends and my constituency and around the world. May you all be blessed,” Congressman Rich McCormick said in a statement, greeting the Hindu community.

The event was broadcast live at approximately 300 locations across the US, including at Times Square which was lit up with vibrant colours and Lord Ram's images.

In Mauritius, where the population consists of around 48 per cent Hindus the community came together to light 'diyas' at the temples and recited the ‘Ramayan Paath.’ In addition, the government also announced a two-hour off to Hindu officials on Monday.

Car rallies were also organised in London as well as Sydney, amidst chants and bhajans in praise of the deity.

In London, the rally commenced from The City Pavillion on Collier Road and travelled through East London before returning to the starting point.

January 22 was declared as 'Ayodhya Ram Mandir Day' in the towns of Oakville and Brampton in Canada's Ontario province.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his Oakville counterpart Rob Burton said the consecration "holds immense cultural, religious, and historical significance for Hindus worldwide, signifying the culmination of a centuries-old dream."

In the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, Hindus organised cultural events and sang hymns in praise of their deity on Sunday.

In France 'Ram Rath Yatra' will start from Place De La Chapelle at 12 pm and culminate at the Eiffel Tower's, Place De Trocadero, by 3 pm.

A ceremony at the Ganesha temple in La Chapelle will include an elaborate puja, aarti, prasad distribution, and a cultural show.

In neighbouring Nepal, Janakpur, which is considered to be the birthplace of Lord Ram's wife Sita, was lit up and 1,25,000 lamps will illuminate the Janaki temple today, along with 'aartis' in praise of Lord Ram and Sita.

Ram Lalla's idol was installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the grand new temple in Ayodhya on January 18, and the rituals which began on January 16, will culminate today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other dignitaries attending the event.

Source: IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Barring temples in Kerala, especially Ram temples, on the day when the Ram Lalla temple at Ayodhya was consecrated on Monday, the state had a normal day.

Even though state BJP President, K Surendran, demanded that the Kerala Government declare a holiday, there was none, hence it was just like any other Monday.

While TV channels here were live beaming the consecration ceremony from Ayodhya, the CPI-M backed Kairali TV channel, was running a debate on how the Sangh Parivar forces have used religion for political gains.

BJP President, K Surendran was present at the Ram temple at Pala in Kottayam District where the Ayodhya function was beamed live.

Likewise many other temples also held special functions to mark the occasion.

Meanwhile the Sangh Parivar forces have been reaching out to homes across the state highlighting the importance of the Ram temple and have requested people to light lamps in the evening.

Source: IANS

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Ayodhya, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his 11-day fast after concluding the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals in Ayodhya on Monday.

He took a sip of ‘charnamrit’ to break his fast.

The charnamrit has five main ingredients -- yogurt (dahi), milk, honey, tulsi (Indian holy basil), and ghee.

The Prime Minister had undertaken a rigorous 11-day fast ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

During this period, he only drank coconut water and slept on the floor.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tension was prevailing within the campus of Kolkata’s iconic Jadavpur University (JU) over the live-screening of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Monday.

The tension started after a group of students of the university affiliated to the Left-wing union started protesting the live screening of the Pran Pratishtha event and displayed red flags and also shouted 'Inquilab Zindabad' slogans.

On the other hand, another group of students in favour of the live screening started shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans. There was also some scuffle among the two groups of students.

The faculty members and teaching staff started to persuade the students to refrain from creating tension within the university campus. In that process one security person was injured on his head and a couple of faculty members started feeling sick.

The students under the banner of 'JU Students', the principal organizer of the live screening, protested while sitting within the 'green-zone' in the campus.

They alleged that while they were preparing to organise peaceful screening of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, the students affiliated to the Left-wing unions unleashed an unprovoked attack on them and beat up a number of organizers.

A huge police contingent has already reached near the JU campus. However, till the time the report was filed, although the police contingent has taken position outside the university’s main entrance, they are yet to enter the campus.

Apprehension of the tension started mounting at JU since the time a group of students had announced their decision to arrange for the live screening of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony within the university campus.

However, the Left-wing students’ unions have been opposing the same since the beginning on grounds that this screening might hamper the secular ambience within the campus.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Jan 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) At the stroke of 12.29 pm, lakhs of people in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra celebrated the ‘Pran Prathisthan’ of Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya with processions, special poojas, chanting of prayers, hymns, ringing temple bells, cries of ‘Jai Shree Ram’, spraying ‘gulal’, bursting of crackers and distributing sweet ‘prasad’ and ‘maha-prasad’, here on Monday afternoon.

The celebrations were taken up in a majority of the estimated 4,500 Hindu temples dotting the city, including big and small ones, several which are very old, some very big, others very popular, a few which are very magnificent, representing or dedicated to several gods-goddesses, attracting millions of devotees daily.

Since Sunday, almost all temples in the city have been decorated with flowers with marigolds the top favourite along with an assortment comprising ‘tulsi’, lotuses, hibiscus, etc, rendering the atmosphere divine and lilting.

At night, many temples resemble a colourful vibrant spectacle with twinkling fairy lights, tiny glowing lamps of ghee-oil casting a golden warm glow, symbolising an unprecedented second Diwali to accord a grand reception to the Prince of Ayodhya, Lord Ram at his abode.

Many housing complexes in urban centres like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik were fully or partly decorated with flowers and lit up with multi-hued Diwali-style lanterns to mark the joyous occasion.

Maharashtra government is one of the few states that had declared a full holiday, and it enabled lakhs of families including senior citizens and children to step out to the nearest temple and join the festivities, with many from different communities also participating wholeheartedly.

Hours before the Ayodhya Pran Pratisthan rituals attended by many VIPs and celeb, including scores from Mumbai’s big biz and Bollywood, many temples had initiated a special cleanliness drive, led by the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde since the past few weeks.

As per the CM’s directive, each day, three major temples in each of the 24 Wards of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) were scrubbed and deep-cleaned to wear a sparkling look ahead of the big day (January 22).

There are hundreds of Lord Ram Temples in Mumbai, but a few stand out for their unique history, traditions and the sentiments of devotees, including the Ram Mandirs in Borivali, Goregaon, Vile Parle, Dadar, Wadala, Bhuleshwar, or Walkeshwar, which witnessed massive crowds since early today.

Many temples have made special arrangements on LED screens for a live telecast of the Ayodhya ceremonies, ‘hom-havans’, ‘aartis’, special idols of Lord Ram and Sita, post-pooja ‘prasad’ and ‘maha-prasad’ (meal) for the thousands of devotees, plus a special 'maha-prasad' organised for the poor in Dharavi slums.

Some of the major temples are having festivities for three consecutive days with a host of religious, social and cultural events.

Elsewhere, in Dombivali town, 111,111 oil lamps were lit to herald the Lord Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya, renowned chef Vishnu Manohar cooked up a staggering six tonnes of ‘special halwa’ in the giant ‘kadhai’ for lakhs of devotees at the Shri Mahalakshmi Jagdamba Temple, a chariot procession in Pune, a gigantic idol of Lord Ram taken out in a lively march in Mira Road town (Thane), among many others.

Hundreds of big and small Ram Mandirs were gaily decorated with flags and festoons, lit up with oil lamps and prayers were conducted in mofussil areas of the coastal Konkan region besides tribal pockets of Thane, Palghar, Nandurbar, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur and Wardha.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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